British Muslim superstar dedicates latest song to ‘Yolanda’ survivors

British Muslim singing sensation Sami Yusuf has dedicated a new song to survivors of Typhoon “Yolanda” in Eastern Visayas.

Entitled “Hopes Survives”, the not-for-profit track is the backbone of “Live Feed Philippines,” a campaign in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to encourage donations to support families affected by one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall.

Available free at his official website (samiyusufofficial.com/livefeedph/), “Hope Survives” is Yusuf’s gift to the millions affected by the typhoon and an invitation to his fans and the public to contribute to the cause through WFP.

“Like everyone, my heart hurts when I think of all those who saw their family, friends and neighbors taken away by this deluge and found themselves with nothing but mourning in despair within just a few hours,” Yusuf said.

“This song is my tribute to their courage and a call for global solidarity since we all have the power to do something about it.”

“Yolanda” ripped through the Eastern Visayas on Nov.8, leaving behind it a path of death and destruction and millions of people in urgent need of emergency assistance.

Since then, WFP has been reaching out to survivors with food supplies.

In the early stages, the relief agency provided high-energy biscuits, as they are easy to transport, need no cooking and are particularly convenient with children.

Rice rations and Plumpy’Doz, a specialized nutrition product, are now also being distributed as part of the overall response.

A month after the typhoon struck, WFP had dispatched over 11,000 metric tons of food including 11,100 tons of rice, 260 tons of high-energy biscuits and 18 tons of specialized nutrition products for children, reaching some three million people.

“Emergency food assistance remains a top priority. Protecting children from malnutrition is crucial in the weeks and months ahead and WFP will remain alongside families through the early recover process,” said WFP Philippines country director Praveen Agrawal.

“We hope Sami’s beautiful call will encourage people to donate and help us help families rebuild their lives and livelihoods.”

Donations can be made online at wfp.org/LiveFeedPhilippines.

Each USD75 donated can give a family nutritious food for a month.

Serving as WFP Celebrity Partner since 2011, the British singer and composer, hailed by Time Magazine as “Islam’s biggest Rock Star” and by The Guardian as “The most famous British Muslim in the World,” has provided continuous support to WFP through his “Live Feed” initiative against world hunger. PNA